Former MP welcomes Brough's decision to stand down

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MAL Brough has stood down as Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science pending the completion of Australian Federal Police inquiries into the Ashbygate Affair.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the move at the same time he revealed Minister for Cities and Built Environment Jamie Briggs had resigned following a late night incident in a Hong Kong bar involving a female public servant during an official overseas visit.

The moves have sparked calls from Fairfax MP Clive Palmer to get the focus off trivia and back on policy.

"What happens to Mal Brough or Jamie Briggs is by the by," Mr Palmer said.

"My concern is about the government and what it is delivering. Cancer sufferers in Nambour and Maroochydore will be paying more for their treatment. It's not about Clive Palmer or Malcolm Turnbull. It's about why the government enacts the policies it does while it says we are in a strong position as a country."

Mr Palmer said as minister for integrity in government it was important Mr Brough set an example.

"If he's done nothing wrong he can come back," he said. "The fact he is a minister, there has been a warrant issued, a police raid on his home and he admitted on air he was guilty all indicate he should stand aside."

Mr Brough's Alexandra Headland home was the subject of an AFP raid in mid November seeking evidence in relation to allegations he had procured James Ashby to secure notes from former Speaker Peter Slipper's diary. At the time Ashby was a public servant employed in Mr Slipper's office.

The November raid made Mr Brough the Opposition's focus during the last week of Parliament forcing Mr Turnbull to defend him.

On December 3 Labor MP Jason Clare compared Mr Brough's deteriorating position to that of former speaker Bronwyn Bishop, saying it took former Prime Minister Tony Abbott 32 days to remove her following the helicopter scandal.

"It's now 16 days since Mal Brough's home was raided by the federal police," Mr Clare said. "Tick, tick, tick. How long is it going to take Malcolm Turnbull to sack Mal Brough?"

In the end 42 days elapsed between the federal police raid and Mr Brough's decision to stand aside.

The Fisher MP did not help his position with his repudiation in Parliament of a 2014 Channel Nine interview in which he admitted procuring Mr Ashby to gather information from Mr Slipper's diary.

He first told Parliament that "what was put to air was not the full question" before the next day saying his "recollection of the interview was that the question was put to me in a somewhat disjointed manner".

Neither position was helped by Channel Nine's release of the uncut version of the 60 Minutes interview.

"Mal Brough and I have agreed he stand aside as Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science pending the completion of inquiries by the police," Mr Turnbull said in a statement.

"The Minister for Finance and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Hon Mathias Cormann will act as Special Minister of State and the Minister of Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne will act as Minister for Defence Materiel and Science.

"Mr Brough has done the right thing, recognising the importance of the Government maintaining an unwavering focus on jobs, economic growth and national security."

Mr Brough failed to return calls from the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Former Fairfax MP Alex Somlyay said Mr Brough had done the honourable thing.

"This allows the Government to get on with its agenda," Mr Somlyay said.

"Hopefully for the Sunshine Coast Mal will return to the Ministry at the appropriate time."

Mr Gissane said a resolution of the federal police investigation would allow a return to the real issues at play - "the 15% tax on everything, attacking penalty rates, the need for infrastructure, addressing unemployment and caring for the health and welfare of our pensioners and seniors.